Antananarivo police officers are vaccinated against COVID-19 and want to testify
All testimonials are collected in June 2021 after the arrival of the first batch of vaccines for Madagascar, as part of the first vaccination campaign against COVID-19
Interview with Police Inspector Raharison Venance, better known by his pseudonym Ratsikitsiky (the smiling man)
UNICEF: Can you please introduce yourself?
Raharison Venance: I'm Inspector Raharison Venance, but people call me Ratsikitsiky. I am a traffic police officer; my job is to regulate traffic in the streets of the capital.
UNICEF: May we know the reasons that encouraged you to get vaccinated?
Raharison Venance: I deliberately chose to get vaccinated because, as recommended by health care workers, time and time again, the vaccine helps prevent severe forms caused by the virus.
UNICEF: For Malagasy people, who still hesitate to get vaccinated, what message do you want to send them?
Raharison Venance: Yes, indeed, I have a message for my compatriots. The vaccine is here, now is the time to get vaccinated. When the vaccine has not yet arrived in Madagascar, we complained a lot about the delay. So now, we must not hesitate any longer because the situation is critical. It’s a matter of health. And this is the best way to prevent severe forms of the disease.
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Interview with Mr. Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo, active member of the Police Intervention Forces in Antanimora
UNICEF: Are you Mr. Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo, an active member of the Police Intervention Forces in Antanimora?
Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo: Yes, it's me.
UNICEF: May we know the reasons that encouraged you to get vaccinated?
Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo: Yes. I decided to get vaccinated, firstly to protect myself, to protect my family, to protect my relatives and all those who are part of my social environment.
UNICEF: May we know when and where you were vaccinated?
Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo: Yes of course, I received my first dose on 14 May, 2021 at the DSSM Military Hospital in Ampahibe.
UNICEF: When you got vaccinated, did you come alone or with other people?
Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo: Indeed, I did not come alone; my colleagues came with me to get vaccinated too.
UNICEF: Finally, for Malagasy peoplewho still hesitate to get vaccinated, what message do you want to send them?
Ralaimora Tahiry Arivelo: We all know the situation encountered by the country and everyone, how serious and dangerous this disease is. So today, I encourage everyone to get vaccinated to avoid complications from the disease in the future.
UNICEF: May we know the reasons that encouraged you to get vaccinated?
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Interview with Mr. Randriantsizafy Faralahy, nurse at the National Police dispensary in Antanimora
UNICEF: Mr. Randriantsizafy Faralahy, nurse at the National Police dispensary in Antanimora. May we know the reasons that encouraged you to get vaccinated?
Randriantsizafy Faralahy: I made up my mind to get vaccinated to fight this invisible enemy. The body needs protection before it goes to the front lines, and in this situation, that protection is the vaccine.
UNICEF: May we know when and where you were vaccinated?
Randriantsizafy Faralahy: First dose, 14 May, 2021 at DSSM Military Hospital in Ampahibe
UNICEF: When you got vaccinated, did you come alone or with other people?
Randriantsizafy Faralahy: Many among us came there. There were about 30 elements of the Intervention Force who got vaccinated with me at that time.
UNICEF: Finally, for Malagasy people, who still hesitate to get vaccinated, what message do you want to send them?
Randriantsizafy Faralahy: My dear compatriots, the vaccine is a preparation for facing up to the disease; it is dangerous and invisible. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe form of the disease. Thus, from from the onset of symptoms, the disease can be overcome if the vaccine is already present in the body.
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Interview with Razakatsioharana Baovola, student Superintendents of Police at the ENSP Police Academy in Ivato
UNICEF: Mrs. Razakatsioharana Baovola, student Superintendents of Police at the ENSP Police Academy in Ivato. First question, may we know the reasons that encouraged you to get vaccinated?
Razakatsioharana Baovola: My reason for getting vaccinated is simple; I felt that my state of health needed this vaccination.
UNICEF: May we know when and where you were vaccinated?
Razakatsioharana Baovola: I was vaccinated with the first dose on 04 June at the Soavinandriana Military Hospital with all the students of the Higher School of the Police.
UNICEF: Can you tell us the exact number please?
Razakatsioharana Baovola: 37 in total among us received the vaccine.
UNICEF: Finally, for Malagasy people who still hesitate to get vaccinated, what message do you want to send them?
Razakatsioharana Baovola: I would like to encourage people not to hesitate to get vaccinated, because it is matter of health. The vaccine is a chance for us – Malagasy pe
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Note that the second batch of COVID-19 vaccines, as part of the COVAX initiative arrived in Madagascar on 27 July, 2021, followed by a third delivery on 15 August, 2021. The second vaccination campaign began on 11 August, 2021. All the people who testify in this article have today received their second dose of vaccine.
All vaccine doses arrived in Madagascar through the COVAX initiative. This is a global partnership made up of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), GAVI, UNICEF and WHO, which was established to ensure that all countries have equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
